The good, the bad, and the suicidal
Beth Goobie
The good, the bad, and the suicidal
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Beth Goobie
The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
The sharp scent of rain-soaked pavement fills the air as Carol walks the crowded hallways of her school, where whispers swirl around her like a secret breeze. She can hear what others think and even feel their energy pulsing nearby. But with this strange power comes a tug-of-war inside her heart between light and shadow, and a journey to find out who she really is.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fiction explores themes of identity and moral struggle through the story of Carol, a girl with unique psychic abilities who navigates the challenges of school and personal growth. Suitable for ages 9-12, it touches on complex ideas like good versus evil and self-discovery, set against the backdrop of Canadian middle school life. Parents should note the emotional weight of Carol's internal conflicts but will find the story appropriate for its intended audience.
Why we rated The good, the bad, and the suicidal 9ME
The good, the bad, and the suicidal is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 159 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The good, the bad, and the suicidal works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate The good, the bad, and the suicidal as 9ME ("Moderate — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the moderate intensity score.
Thematically, The good, the bad, and the suicidal explores identity & self-discovery, schools, family, and multicultural — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 9-12 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about identity & self-discovery, schools, family.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 1896184227
- Pages
- 159
- Publisher
- Roussan Publishers
- Published
- 1997
- Type
- Fiction